Greenaway's films include The Draughtsman's Contract, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and the Cannes Palme d'Or winner Drowning by Numbers.

"Given the always complex effort involved, to be permitted in the first place to make films with so many collaborators always astonishes me, and to be permitted the licence to do so with such freedom to continually experiment even more so," Greenaway said of his BAFTA honour.

"Everyone agrees that cinema is changing its characteristics very fast and to be awarded a BAFTA for trying to contribute to that change is a pleasure and a delight, an encouragement and an acknowledgement that the effort is valuable, certainly for myself and certainly for all those numerous collaborators who have assisted me in this effort over more than 30 years."